SACRAMENTO – This was a case where the guy starting, Rafer Alston, really DID suggest that another guy start.

So the inevitable moves up to tonight as Devin Harris moves back into the starting lineup for the Nets who will try to end their hideous winless start at 15 games.

“I thought it would be better for Devin to get back in the starting lineup, maybe get him back into a rhythm,” Alston explained after the morning shootaround. “I know what it’s like when you’ve been a starter for a long stretch and then all of a sudden you’re coming off the bench. It’s hard to regain your rhythm.”

So Alston went to Lawrence Frank and said don’t wait. Harris will start again. Do it now. And Frank accepted.

“To show you the selfless approach of our team, no one has taken more reps than Rafer Alston. We chart every single rep taken. So he’s far and above taken the most reps, and he was the one that raised his hand and said, ‘It’s time for Devin to start,'” Frank said.

The move recalled a famous exchange with then coach John Calipari and the media regarding Kerry Kittles. Coach Cal told the media that Kittles came to him and proposed that he come off the bench in favor of the recently-acquired Jim Jackson. So media types asked Kittles about his magnanimous gesture.

“Huh? What are you talking about?” Kittles said, claiming he never asked to come off the bench.

Well, he probably would have. Cal was just being foresighted.

So Harris is in and the move provides one other interesting move. It reunites Alston and Courtney Lee on the second unit.

“Yeah, me and Rafer were together last year (in Orlando) so we know each other’s game quite a bit,” offered Lee, who has no idea when he’ll start again. “Being out there together, it’s definitely fun.”

* * *

Frank has made valid points that all the injuries, in addition to draining the talent pool, also make it hard getting guys back in. He has compared the early going to training camp. Harris agrees, but doesn’t expect any acclimation problems.

“I’ve played enough minutes now. But starting games, it could be a little quicker pace, that’s the only thing,” Harris said. “Just got to go about it the same way. Starting the game, obviously the pace of the game will be a little quicker to start instead of trying to read the flow when I get in there. I get to set the pace myself. That’s the only difference.”

* * *

At Denver, Harris shot 15 free throws in 31 minutes. At Portland, where he seemed to take way more hits, Harris shot no free throws in 26 minutes.

“The whistle blew some times, it didn’t blow others. A lot of similar plays, but sometimes it will be like that,” Harris shrugged.

* * *

Tony Battie was ecstatic following his morning workout and now says he could be playing next week.

“I’m getting there,” the veteran big said. “I’m definitely trying to turn the corner and get back on the court sometime next week. That’s what I’m striving for. We’re making tremendous strides. I’m smiling like a schoolboy right now because I’m feeling good.”

Battie even went through his on-court workout without the brace on his right knee.

* * *

Stopped by the Kings’ shootaround and believe it, they don’t want to be THE team to lose to the Nets.

“It’s like everyone asks, ‘Wouldn’t you rather play a team with one win than zero?’ And that’s definitely the case,” said center Spencer Hawes. “You try not to put too much on it but it’s hard not to look at it. A team coming in like them, they can knock off anybody.”

* * *

Kings coach Paul Westphal had some nice things to say about the Nets and Lawrence Frank. Don’t judge them until they get healthy, was one Westphal message.

“They’re getting their players back. They’re obviously not a (0-15) team,” Westphal said, noting he can relate to what Frank is going through.

“Everybody knows he’s a good coach. He’s had success in this league. But sometimes, you get dealt a bad hand and you have to play it,” Westphal said.

“I had four starters out with the Suns one year,” Westphal recalled. “Barkley, Majerle, Hot Rod Williams and K.J.

“Got fired.”

You might not want to tell LFrank that story for encouragement, coach.

* * *

Harris admitted Chris Douglas-Roberts is taking the losing hard.

“Nobody wants to accept losing. Ever. We have guys who really hate it with a passion. CD-R, we’ve been having him on suicide watch the last week and a half,” Harris said.